Wire-fence-gate fastener



N0. 6ll,74|. Patented Oct. 4, I898. A. SCH'LAPBACH.

WIRE FENCE GATE FASTENEB.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1897.)

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETERS co PNQYO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, n. c. v

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALBERT SOHLAPBACH, OF SOANDIA, KANSAS.

WlRE-FENCE=GATE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,741, dated October 4, 1898.

Application filed December 11, 1897. Serial No. 661,501. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT SCHLAPBACH, a citizen of the United, States of America, residing at Scandia, in the county of Republic and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Wire-Fence- Gate Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wire-gate fasteners; and the object of the same is to provide a simple, cheap, and effective means for connecting the stile of a wire gate to a fencepost, so as to hold the gate closed; and the invention consists in. the construction and combination of the parts, as will be l1erein after fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side view showing the wire-gate fastener applied to a gate so as to hold the gatev locked. Fig. 2 is a similar View, the lever being thrown back, the gate-stile being in engagement with the loop carried by the fence-post and the link wit-h the pin attached to the fence-post. Fig. 3 is a plan or view looking down upon the gate-fastener when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the gate-fastener, partly broken away, the lever being shown in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of a modification of my improved wire-gate fastener, showing the manner of constructing the lever out of one piece of metal. 7

Referring to the drawings, A A arethe fence-postsadjacent to a gateway, and to the fence-post A the gate-stile a may be connected in any suitable manner, a convenient means being bythe use'of wire loops 1). The gate may be provided with a central batten, and to the stile a the wire-gate fastener is bolted or otherwise pivotally attached, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The fence-post A carries adjacent to its lower end at a suitable distance above the ground a loop 0 or other convenient means for engaging the lower end of the gate-stile a, and adjacent to the upper end of the post A is a laterally-projecting pin or stud d.

The gate instead of being constructed as shown may be of any suitable type. The gate-fastener consists, essentially, of a lever B, which is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the stile a and carries a link 0, said link being pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage therewith when the lever is swung in either direction. The terminal portion of the link 0 opposite the end which is in pivotal engagement with the lever'is formed intoa hook, so as to engage with the pin or stud (1, carried by the fence-post A. The end of the link 0 adjacent to its pivot is shaped so as to project beyond the pivot and engage with a shoulder, stop, or abutment on the lever, and when the lever is thrown to a position as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings the points of connection of the link with the fencepost, the lever with the stile, and link with the lever'will form a look, so that the lever cannot be raised by a strain upon the parts occasioned by the tightening of the fence-Wires. It will also be noted that a downward movement of thefree end of the lever will be prevented by reason of the stop or abutment engaging with the link.

A preferred form of construction of the lever is shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, in which instance to the lever is attached a plate 6, the end thereof being shaped to present walls which incline or are at opposing angles, the point or end of the plate being substantially on a line with the pivot f, which connects the link 0 to the lever B. To the plate 6, by means of a rivet a is attached a plate g, the pivot f serving as additional means for connecting the plates 6 and g tothe lever.

Through the lever-plates e and g are formed two apertures h h, and through one of said apertures is passed the bolt or pin, which provides the connecting means or fulcrum of the lever with the gate-stile. The link 0, which is pivotally connected between the parallel end portions of the lever B, has adjacent to its pivot an angle or bend. The edges of said portion engage with the angular end of the plate e. When the lever is thrown to the position shown in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 4, one of the oblique edges of the end portion of the plate e will engage the edge of the link below the pivotal connection of the link with the lever, and the lower edge of the plate will also engage with the upper face of the link, and when the lever is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4 the other edge of the plate will engage with the inclined end of the link beyond the pivot, which will prevent the lever swinging downward until the link is released from the fence-post.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the lever B is made from a single plate of metal, one end of which is slitted, as shown in Fig. 5, after which the ends are separated and one of the portions is bent to one side, while the other portion is bent upward, so as to lie parallel with and opposite to the other member. The link 0 is pivoted between the end members, so as to have the same range of movement hereinbefore set forth, said link engaging the fulcrum of the lever when the gate is closed, and an end extension 2' engaging the cross portion of one of the members when the parts are alined, as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 8 the lever is formed with an end portion which projects at right angles, which is bent, as shown, to support the hook.

The end of the lever farthest from its fulcrum carries a handle or knob of any suitable type, which is secured thereto in any convenient way, and, if desirable, the lever may be cast or forged in one piece.

Though I have described my device as a wire-gate fastener it is obvious that it may be used for other purposes, and it is susceptible for use as a clothes-line fastener and for other analogous purposes.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wire-gate fastener, the combination with a fence-post provided near its upper end with a laterally-projecting pin, of a lever fulcrumed to the upper end of a gate-stile, a

link pivotally attached to the lever to one side of the fulcrum thereof, said link having a hook for engagement with the pin which projects from the side of the fence-post, the lever and link abutting when the former is swung to the limit of its movement upon its fulcrum in either direction, substantially as shown.

2. In a wire-gate fastener the combination with a fence-post having a pin which projects laterally therefrom, of a lever fulcrumed upon a gate-stile, a link having one end formed into a hook the link being pivotally attached to the lever to one side of its fulcrum so that the movement of the lever will be limited by reason of the engagement of the lever and link, substantially as shown.

In combination with a lever having an aperture through which passes means for connecting the same to a support to provide a fulcrum for the lever, a link pivoted to the lever beyond the fulcrum thereof, an abutment between the fulcrum of the lever and the pivotal point of connection of the link therewith, the link adjacent to its pivot and on opposite sides thereof having portions which engage with the abutment of the lever for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a lever having parallel end portions and an aperture through which passes means for connecting the lever to a support, of a link pivoted to the lever between the parallel end portions thereof, said link being provided with a projecting end which engages with the lever when swung in one direction and an inclined portion which engages with the lever when swung in an opposite direction, the end of the link farthest from its pivot having a hook, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT SOI'ILAPBACH.

Witnesses:

ALFRED ANDERSON, I THEODORE M. OLASAN. 

